History was made in Paris today. Kering and Balenciaga have named British-Jamaican designer Martine Rose as the house’s new creative director — making her the first woman to lead Balenciaga in its 109-year history, and the first Black woman to hold the job.
Rose officially takes over on November 16, based in Paris, succeeding Pierpaolo Piccioli, whose departure was announced just a day earlier after three seasons. She is no stranger to the house: Rose previously worked as a menswear consultant at Balenciaga under Demna from 2015 to 2018. Born in Croydon, South London, to a British-Jamaican family, she launched her own label in 2007 and built a cult following rooted in London’s music and subculture scenes — and became a go-to designer for Kendrick Lamar.
“It is a true privilege to be appointed creative director of Balenciaga, a house with an extraordinary heritage and a boldly creative spirit,” Rose said in a statement. Her appointment makes her only the second Black woman to take the creative helm at a major European luxury house, following Grace Wales Bonner’s appointment at Hermès menswear in 2025 — with Rachel Scott at Proenza Schouler also joining the wave. Black women are reshaping luxury fashion at the very top, and Martine Rose just kicked down one of its biggest doors. Congratulations! 👏🏽✨
Source: Kering / Balenciaga announcement, Nov 6, 2026
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